[SML] Software for theatrical lighting

[Steven Haworth]

Hobbit, you bring some memories for me.  Years ago now I did a quite
complex theatre show on an Express using 8 StudioColors and a pile of
conventionals, and actually it worked just fine.
The saving grace was learning to edit cues in spreadsheet mode - so I could
set colors & position during move-in-black moments. But all those had to be
thought out manually, and carefully edited.
And giving each mover it's own submaster page.  Sigh... memories. :-)

On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 6:49 AM Bill Conner via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> Jumping from 2 scene preset to EOS is not going to be easy. I started with
> AutoCAD in 1982 and was stretched at each upgrade. Were I to try to move
> from drafting board to AutoCAD today, no way.
>
> On Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 4:06 PM Kristi R-C via Stagecraft <
> stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>
>> I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how happy I’ve been with the Chauvet
>> MagicQ software and dongle. Costs about $25 and does one universe. I got it
>> for troubleshooting in the field and have used it many, many times - great
>> for set-it-and-forget-it installs, too.
>>
>> The Nomad/Gadget combo is great for backup, programming offline or
>> student use, but yes - unless you know it’s the EOS language you wouldn’t
>> find it easily on the ETC web site, and unless you have a touch-screen, I
>> find mousing and click to be SLOW with a laptop.
>>
>> That said, I’ve had excellent results from using the ETC training videos
>> and booklet with students ranging from MS through adult. If you can bring
>> in Ellen White or another ETC trainer to do their two day-long gig on site
>> (if they are??) that’s a great way to train a bunch of folks at one time.
>>
>> Kristi
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Joe via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
>> To: stagecraft at theatrical.net <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
>> Cc: Joe <jdunfee12 at yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Fri, Sep 17, 2021 7:49 am
>> Subject: [SML] Software for theatrical lighting
>>
>> Upon a friend's recommendation, I recently purchase the ETC Nomad
>> software, and their USB-to-DMX interface.
>>
>> My understanding of lighting control came from the late 1980's. And has
>> pretty much stayed at that level. So I am quite of date.  But, getting
>> started with this Nomad system has been an unnecessarily frustrating
>> experience.  It took help from the manufacturer on their forum to find the
>> user manual.  Mostly because the word "Nomad" is not part of the help file
>> name.  I took another two weeks to find out that the reason I can't find
>> video tutorials to get started, is because the software (when you choose
>> the EOS mode of operation) is truly behaving like and has the same virtual
>> buttons as a physical console. And that the console is getting the same
>> user screens as I was seeing on the software. So, I should have been
>> watching videos about the EOS consoles, not hunting for "Nomad".
>>
>> After the difficulty of finding documentation or tutorials, the first
>> time you start the software, the inexperienced user is faced with a
>> problem... how do you exit the program, without using Cntl-Alt-Delete? And
>> that is just the start of the difficulties.
>>
>> I come from an AutoCAD background starting with version 10 on DOS. Having
>> learned all the keyboard commands, I was always must faster at the program
>> that those that used the pre-Windows features of printed out menu choices
>> on the digitizing tablets. And when a Windows version came out, it became
>> easier. In fact, you could get started with most programs without being
>> lost.
>>
>> For any complex program,the user interface is, necessarily complex.  But,
>> there has to be an on-ramp somewhere. My friends opinion is that ETCs EOS
>> system is easier than others, without sacrificing capability. But, as he
>> continued to tutor me, we kept running into things that required special
>> user instruction or steps that you had to be told about by your trainer.
>> But the biggest issue is that the tutorials seem to be written for people
>> who are already familiar with lighting consoles designed for robotic
>> lights.
>>
>> I have to ask if things are really that bad for a novice?  Perhaps the
>> time is ripe for another party to really come up with a better solution, or
>> better on-ramp to get started. But, also allow for all the complex features
>> that these programs need.
>>
>> Is there yet a software solution out there that has risen to the top, and
>> greatly improved the on-ramp experience for the novice?
>>
>> -Joe
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